Enabling Architecture

Architected for an Optimal Supply Chain

  • Built to support shippers, 3PLs, and carriers
    • Supports 3PL and carrier multi-customer/multi-model approach
    • Supports shipper transportation control center for centralized control and distributed execution
  • Designed to reuse configurations, contracts, rates, locations, etc.
    • Allows sharing carriers, contracts, and locations to appropriate companies
    • Enables establishing templates for appropriate customer types
    • Makes copying existing similar companies/location a time-saving option
  • Built to allow evaluation of potential customers/locations
    • Reuses existing contracts and tweaking to model
    • Allows evaluating profitability quickly, adjusting the model, and analyzing the results
  • Constructed to enable parties to see data online
    • Creates roles and permissions to limit users to appropriate information
    • Provides a single view of all information across different organization

End-to-End Shipment Management

  • Consistent process regardless of mode
    • All modes considered - parcel, LTL, truckload, intermodal, rail, ocean, air, etc.
    • Inbound or outbound shipments
  • Shipment lifecycle fully supported
    • Create shipment, build load, determine carrier Rate optimization, route optimization, route guide, schedules, etc.) tender/book load, print documents, track load, receive and autdit carrier invoice, invoice customer
    • Determine proper carrier for the move
      • Rate optimization
      • Route optimization
      • Brokerage
  • Develop and report meaningful metrics

System must support all modes.

Support for Various Rating Models

  • Support for any type of rating
    • Support for typical rates such as per mile, flat, per pallet, per container, per weight, etc.
    • Rates can be based on multiple constraints
      • Per weight, per distance - i,.e., Per hundred-weight (weight breaks) for shipments from 0 to 100 miles
      • Per pallet per distance - i.e., 150 per pallet from 1 to 3 pallets that are moved less than 150 miles.
    • Supports for item based rating as well
      • By SKU
      • By SKU and Quantity
    • Can min/cap across multiple ratable items
    • Deficit rating, dimensional rating (multiple dim factors per contract)
    • 3rd party rating such as SMC3, web-service rating, etc.
  • Support for inter-modal and multi-modal by schedule
  • Support for route guide
  • Carrier sourcing for equipment and capacity

Rating must support the business.

Share Information Among All Parties

  • Share information online with personalization
    • Personalize terminology and screens
    • Portlets
  • Send information electronically
    • EDI, XML, web service, Excel, etc.
    • Customers may receive information from the 3PL acting as a carrier (status message, tender, invoice, etc.)
  • Send information via email
    • Tender
    • Quote
    • Status message request
    • Reports
    • BOLs
    • Invoice
    • Any document

All parties need to get data the way that makes sense for them.